Theocracies Come in Many Flavors: Islam and Liberal/Progressivism are Two

Modern followers of Muhammad show their true colors when given the reins of power. “Convert” (imagine the mockery… a god who allegedly accepts a profession of allegiance at the threat of death!), be extorted to pay for things one does not believe, or be crucified or beheaded.

Islamist insurgents have issued an ultimatum to northern Iraq’s dwindling Christian population to either convert to Islam, pay a religious levy or face death, according to a statement distributed in the militant-controlled city of Mosul.

The statement issued by the Islamic State, the al Qaeda offshoot which led last month’s lightning assault to capture swathes of north Iraq, and seen by Reuters, said the ruling would come into effect on Saturday.

It said Christians who wanted to remain in the “caliphate” that the Islamic State declared this month in parts of Iraq and Syria must agree to abide by terms of a “dhimma” contract – a historic practice under which non-Muslims were protected in Muslim lands in return for a special levy known as “jizya”.

“We offer them three choices: Islam; the dhimma contract – involving payment of jizya; if they refuse this they will have nothing but the sword,” the announcement said.

A resident of Mosul said the statement, issued in the name of the Islamic State in Iraq’s northern province of Nineveh, had been distributed on Thursday and read out in mosques.

Pray for the Christians of Iraq, and throughout the world where such acolytes of Satan hold sway.

Stay with me…

I can’t help but compare this to Progressives’ religious devotion to Obamacare, and other bureaucratic mandates. Christians are instructed to violate their most deeply held beliefs, or pay massive fines–just like jizya. The only thing missing, so far (and, admittedly, it’s a big one), is official threats of death. Though… did you see all of the Twitter posts after the Supreme Court decision, essentially calling for the deaths of the Justices, and for burning down stores, etc.? We may be closer to the full package than anyone wants to consider.